Passenger held at Ahmedabad airport for smuggling gold worth ₹60 lakh from Dubai

Customs officers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Saturday intercepted an Indian national arriving from Dubai and seized nearly half a kilogram of gold in powder form, valued at ₹59.7 lakh, concealed in his clothing.

According to officials, the operation was carried out based on specific intelligence shared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ahmedabad Zonal Unit (AZU). The passenger had arrived in the city on Emirates flight EK540 from Dubai.

“On the basis of information received from the DRI, our officers maintained surveillance and intercepted the passenger shortly after his arrival,” said a senior Customs official. “A detailed examination of his baggage and a personal search led to the recovery of gold concealed in an unusual manner.”

During the inspection, Customs officers discovered gold in powder or paste form hidden between two layers of fabric in the lower part of the jeans worn by the passenger. The concealed material was later processed and converted into pure 24-carat gold weighing 491.4 grams.

The recovered gold has been valued at ₹59.70 lakh in the open market and ₹54.26 lakh as per tariff value. The contraband was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

Officials said the case is part of a continuing trend in which smugglers are adopting increasingly innovative methods to evade detection, particularly by concealing gold in paste form within clothing or personal items.

Further investigation is underway to determine whether the accused was acting on behalf of a larger smuggling syndicate operating between Dubai and Ahmedabad.